Men's Basketball | 1/21/2026 8:57:00 AM

Cloud County Community College head men's basketball coach Kyle Pugh has been named the recipient of the Week 9 HoopDirt.com JUCO Coach of the Week Award, presented by Just Play Solutions.

Cloud County (11-7, 6-6 KJCCC) has won five straight since returning from the Christmas holiday break, including picking up a pair of victories last week at home in Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) play. 

The T-Birds began the week on January 14 with an impressive 112-87 victory over No. 19 Butler Community College that saw a season-high seven different players score in double-figures. Redshirt freshman forward Manasseh Stackhouse, last week's NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Player of the Week, had 17 points and 10 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double and his fifth of the season. Stackhouse shot 5-of-7 from the field, connected on his only three-point attempt of the game, and finished 6-of-10 from the foul line. Sophomores Kuel Akot, Samuel Akot, Syncere Burnette and Elidjah Savane all had 15 points apeice. Burnette added eight rebounds and a team-high eight assists. Samuel Akot registered nine rebounds with a season-high five assists. Kuel Akot notched a season-best seven rebounds, while Savane had four rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench. Freshman forward D'ontez Walker scored 13 points and had five rebounds. Freshman guard Kam Williams finished with 12 points.

Back in action on January 17, Cloud County captured a 94-64 home win versus Independence Community College. Savane and Stackhouse led the T-Birds with 17 points each. Walker added 14 points. Samuel Akot finished with 13 points. Kuel Akot scored 12 points, while Williams had 10 points. Cloud County dominated the glass, outrebounding the Pirates 55-35. The T-Birds also matched a season-high with nine blocked shots.

During its current five game winning streak, the T-Birds are averaging 96.0 points per game and have a plus-19.4 scoring margin.

This marks the second HoopDirt.com Coach of the Week honor for Pugh, who was previously recognized with the award on November 25, 2024. Pugh is now eligible for the HoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year Award, also presented by Just Play Solutions, which will be announced at the end of the 2025-26 college basketball season.

The Cloud County men's basketball team plays at Seward County Community College (13-5, 8-4 KJCCC) in KJCCC play on Wednesday, January 21. Cloud County has won four of its last five meetings with Seward County. Earlier this season, the T-Birds won the first meeting between the two schools, 85-65, on November 19, 2025 in Arley Bryant Gymnasium. Cloud County is 2-3 in its last five games played in Liberal.

Tip from the Greenhouse in Liberal, Kansas is set for 8 pm and the game will be streamed live on the Seward County Sports Network.